Over the past several months, the National Council of Women's Organizations
 led by chairwoman Martha Burk  has placed public pressure on Augusta
to admit a woman member. Augusta chairman William "Hootie" Johnson
has responded that the 68-year-old private club won't be "bullied, threatened
or intimidated" by pressure groups.

USATODAY.com asked four of its regular columnists  Christine
Brennan, Mike Lopresti, Ian O'Connor
and Jeff Zillgitt  for their take on the matter,
posing the question: "What's your opinion on the failure of Augusta National
to admit a woman member to date?" Their responses are posted below.

The fact that it has taken 12 years for golf to move
from Shoal Creek to Martha Burk speaks volumes about how the game of golf
really feels about women: Namely, that it's of course no longer acceptable
to discriminate against African-Americans, but it's still appropriate, and
even encouraged in some circles, to discriminate against women. This is
wrong. Augusta National tries to hide behind the private-club excuse, but
that works for only 51 weeks a year. In the 52nd week, hosting The Masters,
the club becomes the very public face of golf and has a responsibility to
act in an acceptable public manner, which means it can't discriminate against
51% of the population without having to answer for it.

Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

Augusta should have women. Simple as that. But "Hootie"
Johnson's argument is not totally without merit. Self-determination of a
private club  no matter how disagreeable some of its rules 
is a complex issue. I am not sure myself where the line of intrusion should
be. But I never delegated Martha Burk to find it for me. Johnson, however,
blew his case with his manners and methods. Augusta loses its charisma when
it is so obstinate. For The Masters, this issue is going nowhere good.

Ian O'Connor
The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News

By defining its discriminatory membership policy
as legally acceptable, Augusta National is trying to divert attention from
the fact that its position on women is morally reprehensible. Only a Neanderthal
could side with the green blazers on this one. Like many private clubs,
Augusta National had to be embarrassed into admitting black members. Heres
hoping it can be shamed into taking the right course of action one more
time.

Jeff Zillgitt
USATODAY.com

Let me paraphrase from Thomas Paines 1776 historic
pamphlet Common Sense: The members of Augusta National have
made a long habit of thinking nothing wrong about excluding women from its
club, giving the superficial appearance they are right. There is formidable
outcry in defense of this custom from club members until enough time passes
that they employ common sense to the matter. Time is up for Augusta.
Its common sense.